Merry & Bright

Posted On December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas! Our holiday has been quiet and beautiful. I hope you are enjoying your day, however you chose to spend it. Today especially I am grateful for the journey we are on and the people standing with us. These trials have taught us a lot about life and love, and I pray we have become better people for it.

Last night, Christmas Eve, Greg made a lovely dinner, and the four of us sat at the table for nearly two hours, quietly eating, talking, and joking. Trying, with limited success, not to drop our silverware on our plates or bang our glasses on the table. Tate had his noise-cancelling headphones and used them as needed. I didn’t want it to end, but eventually we were full of pasta and Kulp Christmas cookies and retreated to our beds.

I did not hang a single holiday decoration this year. Not one. I can’t remember that ever happening before. Normally our house is borderline over-decorated for Christmas with baubles hanging from ceilings, shower rods, door knobs, light fixtures, and so on. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel the Christmas spirit this year; I am simply exhausted.

Fortunately, Greg wasn’t feeling that way. He lit up our front yard with layers and layers of lights, and I came home one day to find our Christmas tree and mantle decorated beautifully.

For the most part, the puppy did really good with the Christmas tree. Ludo destroyed one bow before discovering how delicious candy canes are. He harvested all the candy canes he could reach over the next few days, leaving the rest of the ornaments untouched. His breath has improved dramatically.

Tate’s room got some very special decorations, too!

Today, for a little while, we were on cancer’s schedule. Greg, Scott, and I were moving around our house in an uncomfortable way for what felt like a long time, anxious for Tate to join us. He came out for a late breakfast and then went back to his room for the next few hours. At 3:00pm Tate emerged, handing us gifts he had ordered online before beginning to open his own.

As we prepare to sit together for Christmas dinner, I find myself overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity we have experienced this year. We have been so fortunate to be surrounded by people who have anticipated our needs, helped us in ways we didn’t realize we needed, and lifted us up when things seemed too heavy to bear.

We hope you have the best Christmas. Much love to all of you.

S.